The prior gasped at the suggestion.“Are ye insinuatin’—”
“I mean no offense.But you can’t flush out quarry without beating about the bushes.”
The prior huffed at that.Then he said in hushed tones, “Ye mustn’t let Father James know ye’re ‘beatin’ about the bushes.’The abbot has made it clear.The father is not to be alerted to the thefts.Not yet.”He added sharply, “Especially since ye’re accusin’ him o’ bein’ the thief.”
“I’m not accusing him.I’m only crossing the names offyourlist,” Hew pointed out.
The prior muttered something under his breath.
“Tell me this,” Hew said.“Are there times when Father James and Brother Cathal come to Kildunan together?”
“Aye.Sometimes.Wait.Ye don’t think…”
Hew filled in the possibility.“They could be working together.”
He expected an outburst of disbelief from the prior.But there was none.To Hew’s surprise, the prior’s voice was distraught as he murmured, “As much as I don’t want to believe it, ye may be right.No one else has the access they do.No one would question their goin’ into the church.Or the library.Or the cloister.”
Hew suddenly felt sorry for the prior.The possibility that Father James, a man revered by the monks, might be a common thief was obviously upsetting to a man who lived and breathed his faith.
He was about to offer a morsel of compassion when the prior pointed and announced, “Ah.There ’tis.”
Through the thinning trees, Hew glimpsed a castle strategically perched atop a hill.It was of modest size, compared to Rivenloch.But its sandstone walls gleamed golden.Proud banners topped each corner of the keep, snapping crisply in the breeze.And dozens of figures dotted the hillside, as busy as ants.The castle was small, but it seemed efficient and well-maintained.Dunlop likely owned much of the land surrounding it as well.
At the barbican, the guard waved the prior through the gate, though he gave Hew and his axe a dubious scowl.Indeed, once they were in the courtyard, several clanfolk gave Hew a dubious scowl.Women with children also gave him a wide berth.
The prior plunged ahead to address a pair of men-at-arms standing beside the keep.“Do ye know where Dunlop is?”
“Inside,” one of them said, nodding toward the great hall.
“Come,” the prior said to Hew.“I’ll introduce ye.While ye’re makin’ the laird’s acquaintance, I’ll find out where Peris has gone.”
The great hall was packed with people.Maidservants wielded besoms, polished tables, and carried trays of oatcakes.Lads placed candles in sconces, wrangled loose hound pups, and poked at the coals on the hearth.Wee children played with wooden dolls.Noblewomen giggled over them.Warriors drank ale by the fire.
“There he is,” the prior said, nodding toward the far stairs.
Hew followed his gaze.A middle-aged nobleman towered several inches above the rest of his clanfolk.He was pleasant-looking, with a neatly trimmed black beard and fine clothing, as crisp and well-maintained as his castle.Though he wasn’t built like a warrior, he looked confident and calm.It was clear he was the leader of this clan.
Then Hew’s eyes fell to the young maid on his arm.
Suddenly he couldn’t move.Couldn’t think.Couldn’t breathe.
She was The Most Beautiful Woman He Had Ever Seen in His Entire Life.
Chapter 5
The lass was so breathtaking, so knee-weakening, so heart-melting, Hew actually let the axe slide off his shoulder.It almost hit the man standing beside him.
“Hey, mind your blade,” the man growled.
“Sorry,” Hew mumbled, fixated on the impossibly lovely woman.
Then the man saw where he was looking.“Och.Lady Carenza.She’s a head-turner, for certain.”
Carenza.
In the village, her name had been on everyone’s lips.The alewife’s lad’s.The parchment-maker’s.The butcher’s son’s.In The Bell, the cooherd had been talking about her.
What had he said?That the Boyle lads wanted to court her, but her father had his sights set much higher.
